Subsurface well tools



Sept. 29, 1959 R. c. BAKER 2,906,347

" SUBSURFACE WELL TOOLS Filed Aug. 16, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 C Ma. 3,

INVENTOR. fizz/50v C. 54:52

Sept. 29, 19 59 Filed Aug. 16, 1955 R. C. BAKER SUBSURFACE WELL TOOLS 2 Sheets-Sheet -2 .fiaj. V

INVENTOR, 61 4,652

United States. Patent Tools, Inc., Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Application August 16, 1955, Serial No. 528,691

'10 Claims. (Cl. 166-237) The present invention relates to subsurface well tools, and more particularly to tools useful in the performance of cementing, acidizing, washing, testing, anchoring, production, fracturing, and other operations in well bores.

The ability of certain parts in subsurface well tools, such as retrievable well packers and anchors, to move with respect to each other is dependent upon the positioning of a clutch portion of the tool in a coupling or released condition. In some forms of apparatus, the shifting of the clutch elements between clutching and unclutching conditions is performed by appropriate manipulation of the tubular string, or other running-in string, to which the tool is attached, and by means of which the tool is run in the well bore to the desired operating point therein.

In the use of a subsurface tool in a liner positioned below a string of well casing, the liner is of substantially lesser inside diameter than the inside diameter of the casing, requiring the use of a tool in the liner that is much smaller than the casing size. As a result, portions of the tool do not engage the casing while being lowered therein, which may allow the clutch elements of the tool to move with respect to each other and become unclutched inadvertently. With the tool in unclutched condition, it might be damaged or destroyed, as the result of subsequent longitudinal movement in the casing or liner of the tool and tubular string to which it is secured.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to prevent inadvertent shifting of the clutch elements of a subsurface tool to uncoupled condition while the tool is being moved longitudinally in the well bore.

Another object of the invention is to preclude inadvertent shifting of the clutch mechanism of the subsurface tool of which it forms a part, despite the running of the tool through a casing that is oversize with respect to the size of the tool, and in which the tool would ordinarily not be operated.

This invention possesses many other advantages, and has other objects which may be made more clearly apparent from a consideration of a form in which it may be embodied. This form is shown in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification. It will now be described in detail, for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, but it is to be understood that such detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through a well tool embodying the invention, disposed within a well casing that has a liner therebelow, the parts of the tool being in retracted position;

Fig. 2 is a view corresponding to Fig. l, disclosing the well tool anchored in packed-01f condition within a liner extending below the well casing;

Fig. 3 is an isometric projection, partly in section, of the clutch portion of the apparatus;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross-section taken along the line 4-4 on Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross-section taken along the line 5-5 on Fig. 2. e

The invention is illustrated in the drawings as applied to a Well packer A of the retrievable type. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is also applicable to other well tools, and for controlling elements other than slips and packing elements hereinafter referred to.

The packer A is adapted to be run in a Well bore or casing B on the end of a tubular running-in string C threadedly or otherwise attached to the upper end of the tubular mandrel or body portion 10 of the packer. Actually, as illustrated in the drawings, the packer A is too small to be anchored in packed-oil condition within the well casing B. It is, however, intended to be set in a liner D that extends below the casing, the inside diameter of the liner being substantially smaller than the inside diameter of the well casing.

The lower end of the mandrel or body portion 10 is threaded into the upper end of a lower tubular packer body 11, to which is attached a packing actuator 12 in the form of a guide. A tapered expander 13 is mounted on the body part 11. It is preferably prevented from turning with respect to the latter by a key 14 secured to the exterior of the body and received within a keyway 15 in the expander, to permit relative longitudinal movement between the body 11 and expander 13, while preventing relative rotation therebetween. When the tubular string C and body 10, 11 are elevated, the packing actuator 12 is moved toward the expander 13 to compress an intervening packing sleeve 16 surrounding the body, and force it outwardly into engagement with the wall of the liner D when the packer A is disposed therewithin. Such actuation of the packing sleeve 16 only occurs after the tapered expander 13 is prevented from moving upwardly. Upward movement of the expander results in its shifting within a plurality of slips 17, and outward expansion of the latter against the wall of the liner D.

The slips 17 have tapered inner surfaces 18 cooperat ing with companion tapered surfaces 19 on the expander, the inclination of such surfaces being such as to move the slips 1. 7 outwardly toward the liner D when the expander 13 is elevated. Conversely, lowering of the expander 13 with respect to the slips 17 permits the latter to release from the liner wall and move inwardly to retracted position.

It is, accordingly, apparent that elevation of the tubular string C and packer body 10, 11 can eflect anchoring of the tool through engagement of the slips 17 with the liner D under the influence of the tapered expander 13. Such elevation can also effect compression or foreshortening of the rubber packing sleeve 16 between the expander 13 and guide 12, to produce its radial outward expansion into sealing engagement with the liner wall.

The slips 17 are held together for joint movement along the tapered expander 13 to and from engagement With directions from the sides of the links 20, may extend, for

the purpose of coupling all of the links 20 and slips 17 for movement jointly with the slip ring 22. Outward movement of the upper ends of the links 20 is prevented by a stop ring 25 suitably secured to the slip ring 22.

The slip ring is connected to a drag and clutch device 26 by a swivel mechanism 27 to permit rotation of the slips 17 and slip ring 22 without correspondingly rotating the drag device 26. The main purpose of the drag device is to resist longitudinal movement of the slips 17 within the liner D.

The drag device includes an outer ratchet or clutch member 28 consisting of a lower ring 29 threaded into an upper ratchet sleeve or housing 30. The ratchet ring 29 and slip ring 22 are adjacent one another and are provided with outwardly directed flanges 31, 32 receivable within an internal circumferential groove 33 in a tie ring 34 having upper and lower inwardly directed flanges 35, 36 disposed above and below the ratchet ring and tie ring flanges 31, 32, respectively. For convenience of assembly, the tie ring 34 may be made of two halves that are moved radially inwardly to dispose the flanges 35, 36 above and below the ratchet ring and slip ring flanges 31, 32. This two-piece tie ring is prevented from coming apart by an encompassing circumferentially continuous sleeve 37, which is prevented from dropping oil the ring by one or more screws 38 threaded into the ring and disposed within holes 39 in the sleeve. It is apparent that the tie ring 34 and the flanges 31, 32 on the ratchet ring 29 and slip ring 22 form a swivel connection 27 between the drag device 26 and the slips 17.

The drag and clutch device 26 comprises the outer ratchet member or housing 30, 29 which may slide relatively along the mandrel or body portion 10, or be coupled thereto. The sleeve 30 of this member has the lower ends of outwardly bowed leaf springs 40 secured thereto in any suitable manner, as by an encompassing ring 41 and screws 42. The upper ends of the springs 40 are similarly connected to an upper collar 43, slidable on the mandrel or body 10, by an encompassing ring 44 and screws 45. The outwardly bowed springs 40 are adapted to frictionally engage the wall of the liner D, which tends to resist longitudinal movement of the slips 17 through the well liner. Upon reaching the desired setting point in the liner, if the tubular mandrel is permitted to move upwardly with respect to the drag device 26, such elevation would also elevate the lower packer body 11 and, through the guide 12 and packing sleeve 16, elevate the expander 13 within the slips 17, since the latter are prevented from moving upwardly by the drag device. Such elevation of the expander 13 forces the slips 17 radially outward into anchoring engagement with the liner wall. With the slips 17 anchored to the liner, the expander 13 is prevented from moving upwardly. Accordingly, a continuation of the upward movement of the tubular string C and body 10, 11 moves the guide ring 12 toward the expander 13, foreshortening the packing sleeve 16 and expanding it into firm sealing engagement with the liner D and the packer body 11.

Lowering of the tubular string C and packer body 10, 11 with respect to the drag device 26 permits retraction of the packing sleeve 16 from the liner and produces corresponding downward movement of the tapered expander 13, by virtue of engagement of the body shoulder 46 with an expander flange 47, so that the slips 17 are moved inwardly to retracted position. Such inward retraction will occur since downward movement of the slips is prevented by the friction spring drag device 26.

It is to be noted that upward movement of the tubular body 10, 11 can effect anchoring of the packer A in packed-off condition within the well liner D, and that lowering of these members can effect release of the packer. In order to allow the tubular body 10, 11 to be elevated without anchoring the tool A in the liner, or, for that matter, in the well casing B disposed above the liner, a clutching device is provided for preventing the relative longitudinal movement between the slips 17 and tapered expander 13 upon elevation of the tubular body. In the present instance, such means is afforded by a ratchet or one-way clutch type of lock device disposed between the upper body and mandrel 10 and the ratchet sleeve 30.

The ratchet sleeve 30 has an inner surface 50 tapering upwardly and inwardly that cooperates with a correspondingly tapered surface 51 on a split, inherently contractile ratchet ring 52 to urge the ring inwardly and tend to maintain the internal teeth 53 of the ring in clutching engagement with external ratchet teeth 54 formed on the periphery of the upper tubular body or mandrel 10. The external and internal teeth 54, 53 may be formed as V threads, in order that both upward and downward movement of the mandrel 10 tends to cause its ratchet teeth 54 to cam or expand the sleeve 52 in an outward direction, to disengage the mandrel 10 from the ratchet sleeve 52. Inasmuch as the clutch ring 52 tends to grip the mandrel 10, upward movement of the mandrel 10 will tend to carry the ring 52 upwardly with it, wedging the latter against the internally tapered surface 50 of the ratchet housing 30, which will force and hold the ratchet ring 52 inwardly, with its teeth 53 held in clutching engagement with the mandrel 10. Such action will effectively couple the mandrel 10 and ratchet housing 30 together, so that the two members 10, 30 move upwardly as a unit, precluding relative longitudinal movement between the slips 17 and expander 13, the slips 17 being retained in a retracted position, as well as the packing sleeve 16 therebelow.

In the type of clutch specifically disclosed, the ratchet ring 52 may be maintained in a lower position with respect to the ratchet housing 30 and be prevented from moving upwardly into wedging relation between the housing and the mandrel 10. That is to say, the ratchet ring 52 can be maintained in a lowermost position within the ratchet sleeve 30, in which lateral annular clearance 56 exists between it and the tapered surface 50 of the ratchet sleeve 30. In the event the mandrel 10 is then moved upwardly, upward movement of the ratchet ring 52 is prevented, the cam clutch teeth 54 on the mandrel 10 merely expanding the split ratchet ring 52 out of engagement With such teeth, the mandrel ratcheting relatively freely in an upward direction through the ring 52, for the purpose of anchoring the slips 17 against the liner D and ixpanding the packing sleeve 16 against the wall of the iner.

The control of the ratchet ring 52 to prevent its upward wedging between the ratchet sleeve or housing 30 and the mandrel 10, or to permit such upward wedging, depends upon the relative positions between the ring and one or more locating or holding pins 57 secured to the ratchet sleeve 30 and each extending transversely into an L-shaped slot or recess 58 in the upper portion of the ring 52, the slot opening upwardly through the upper end of the latter. This slot 58 includes a horizontal upper portion 59 defined by an upwardly facing holding shoulder 60, and a vertical slot portion 61 depending from the horizontal portion. As seen most clearly in Fig. 3, the vertical portion 61 is disposed at the left end of the horizontal portion 59, the pin 57 being located in alignment with the vertical slot 61 when it engages the left wall 62 of the vertical slot.

When the clutch ring 52 has been rotated by the mandrel 10 to the position in which the horizontal stop shoulder 60 of the ring is disposed below the locating pin 57, the ring 52 cannot move upwardly relative to the ratchet sleeve 30 into a clutched position. However, when the ring 52 has been rotated to the left by the tubular string C and mandrel 10, to place its vertical slot 61 in alignment with the locating and holding pin 57, then the ring can move upwardly with the mandrel 10, the external tapered surface 51 on the clutch ring wedging against the companion internal surface 50 of the ratchet sleeve 30, which will urge the ring 52 inwardly and maintain its teeth 53 fully engaged with and clutched to the external teeth 54 on the mandrel.

In view of the fact that the clutch ring 52 inherently tends to frictionally grip the mandrel 10, the ring 52 will turn with the mandrel, as above described, to selectively rotate the ring with respect to the holding pin 57, such that the pin is either disposed above the holding shoulder 60 or in alignment with the vertical slot 61. To insure turning of the ring 52 with the mandrel 10, a key 70a may be secured to the ring, being slidable in a companion longitudinal keyway 71a in the exterior of the mandrel.

In the specific design disclosed in the drawings, the mandrel need merely be lowered slightly, which will carry the ratchet ring 52 down with it, and the mandrel then turned to the right, which will carry the latch ring 52 with it and dispose its horizontal holding shoulder 60 under the locating pin 57. Thereafter, the mandrel 10 can be elevated with respect to the ratchet sleeve 30, for the purpose of expanding the slips 17 and the packing structure 16 against the wall of the liner D, inasmuch as the mandrel can ratchet upwardly through the ring 52. Assuming that the slips and the packing structure 16 have been returned to retracted position by virtue of the lowering of the mandrel 10 and body 11 within the liner D, and it is desired to withdraw the apparatus from the liner and from the well bore, then the tubular string C and mandrel 10 are turned to the left, which will carry the clutch ring 52 around with it relative to the ratchet sleeve 30 and the locating pin 57, which are prevented from rotating by-the frictional engagement of the drag springs 40 against the wall of the liner, until the left wall 62 of the vertical slot 61 engages the locating pin. Thereafter, upward movement of the tubular string C and mandrel 10 will cause the mandrel to carry the inherently contractible clutch ring 52 upwardly with it and into its' wedged or clutched position between the ratchet sleeve 30 and the mandrel 10.

The apparatus disclosed is operable in a well casing B or in a liner D. However, when it is to be used in a liner extending below a string of well casing, the friction drag springs 40 may not engage the wall of the well casing when the apparatus is being lowered therewithin. As .a result, there may be inadequate resistance to turning of the ratchet sleeve 30 while the apparatus is being lowered in the well casing B, and the ratchet sleeve 30 may rotate to the extent and in the direction in which its locating pin 57 is placed in the horizontal slot portion 59 of the clutch ring 52 and above the horizontal holding shoulder 60. When in this position, elevation of the tubing string C, which occurs periodically as the tubing string is lifted fromjthe slips and the rotary table (both not shown) at the top of the well bore, could produce outward expansion of the slips 17, inasmuch as the mandrel 10 can now be shifted upwardly within and with respect to the ratchet sleeve 30. Subsequent lowering movement of the apparatus might not cause full retraction of the slips 17. As a result, when the upper end of the liner D is reached, the slips 17 may be partially or fully expanded and might engage the upper terminus of the liner, causing potential damage to the apparatus, or at least prevent entry of the well packer A into the liner D.

For the purpose of preventing such inadvertent release of the clutch while the apparatus is being lowered in the well casing, a device is included between the ratchet sleeve 30 and the mandrel 10 that tends to produce a resistance to rotation of the ratchet sleeve rela tive to the mandrel, in the absence of frictional engagement of the drag Springs 40 with the wall of the well casing B. As disclosed, a spring seat and housing 70 is secured to the mandrel 10 above the ratchet sleeve 30, this spring seat being threadedly secured to a twopiece externally threaded ring 71 disposed within a peripheral groove 72 in the mandrel. Rotation of the spring seat 70 relative to the mandrel 10 and the split ring 71 is prevented by a set screw 73 threaded through the seat'and engaging the mandrel. The upper end of a helical compression spring 74, which encompasses the mandrel, engages the spring seat 70, the spring 74 being retained primarily within the seat 70, which protects it. The lower end of the helical compression spring engages the upper end of the ratchet sleeve 30. As a result,

the spring 74 is constantly exerting a force urging the ratchet sleeve 30' in a downward direction, tending to maintain its tapered surface 50 engaged and wedged against the external surface 51 of the clutch ring 52, to hold the teeth 53 of the latter fully engaged with the companion teeth 54 on the mandrel. The spring 74, in effect, produces a clamping force that effectively wedges the clutch ring 52 between the ratchet sleeve 30 and the mandrel 10, thereby preventing inadvertent longitudinal movement between these parts. Accordingly, the ratchet sleeve 30 cannot rotate relative to the mandrel 10 during lowering of the apparatus through the well casing B, and despite the absence of any frictional engagement of the drag springs 40 against the wall of the well casing.

When the apparatus is moved within the liner D of smaller internal diameter than the internal diameter of the casing, the friction drag springs 40 frictionally engage the wall of the liner. They provide a frictional resistance which is greater than the force exerted by the spring 74. Accordingly, relative downward movement of the mandrel 10 within the ratchet sleeve 30, to the slight extent necessary to unwedge the ring 52 from the ratchet sleeve 30, can take' place. Despite such ability of the mandrel 10 to move downwardly to a limited extent with respect to the ratchet sleeve 30, the latter is prevented from rotating by the frictional engagement of the drag springs 40 against the wall of the liner D. I

After the apparatus A has been lowered in the liner D to the desired point at which it is to be anchored in packedofi condition, the tubular string C and mandrel 10 are turned to the right, the mandrel moving the clutch ring 52 to the right with it to dispose the horizontal shoulder 60 of the clutch ring under the locating or holding pin 57. When in this position, the ring 52 is maintained in its unclutching condition, which permits the tubing string C and mandrel 10 to be elevated, the mandrel merely ratcheting through the clutch ring 52 to effect radial expansion of the slips 17 into anchoring engagement with the wall of the liner D, followed by foreshortening and outward expansion of the packing sleeve 16 into sealing engagement with the wall of the liner. Such action can occur, since the outwardly bowed drag springs 40 resist upward movement of the slips 17 within the liner D.

After the operation in the well bore has been performed, and it is desired to remove the apparatus A from the liner, the tubular string C and mandrel 10 are lowered to effect retraction of the packing sleeve 16 and of the slips 17, whereupon the tubular string and mandrel are rotated the required distance to the left, to place the vertical clutch ring slot 61 in alignment with the holding pin 57. Subsequent upward movement of the mandrel 10 will carry the clutch ring 52 upwardly with it and into wedging engagement with the internally tapered surface 50 of the ratchet sleeve 30, effectively coupling the mandrel to the ratchet sleeve. Such clutching action prevents relative longitudinal movement between the expander 13 and the slips 17, as well as the portions of the packing structure 16, insuring their remaining in retracted positions during elevation of the well packer A in the liner D, as well as during elevation of the packer through the larger diameter well casing B above the liner. The compression spring 74 will be in its compressed condition during the elevation of the apparatus in the casing, insuring the wedged relation between the ratchet sleeve or housing 30, the clutch ring 52, and the mandrel 30, which -will preclude inadvertent rotation of the parts to an unclutched condition.

The inventor claims:

1. In a well tool adapted for operation in a well bore: a body member connectible to a running-in string for moving the tool within the well bore; a clutch housing member surrounding said body member; a clutch element supported between said members; means engageable with said clutch element and adapted to be actuated by said body member when said body member is moved by the running-in string fon selectively placing said clutch element in a position wherein said members are coupled to eachfother by said clutch element. or in another position wherein said members are uncoupled from each other; and means engaging said members and constantly tending to shift said members longitudinally with respect to each other in one direction to maintain said clutch element in one of said positions; said members being shiftable longitudinally with respect to each other in the opposite direction to render said shifting means ineffective.

2. In a well tool adapted for operation in a well bore: a body member connectible to a running-in string for moving the tool within the well bore; a clutch housing member surrounding said body member; a clutch element supported between saidme'mbers and adapted to be wedged between said members; means engageable with said clutch element and adapted to be actuated by said body member when said body member is moved by the running-in string for selectively placing said clutch element in a position to be wedged between said members wherein said members are coupled to each other or in another position to be prevented from wedging between said members wherein said members are uncoupled from each other; and means engaging said members and constantly tending to shift said members longitudinally with respect to each other in one direction to maintain said clutch element wedged between said members; said members being shiftable longitudinally with respect to each other in the opposite direction to render said shifting means ineffective.

3. In a well tool adapted for operation in a well bore: a body member connectible to a running-in string for moving the tool within the well bore; a clutch housing member surrounding said body member; a clutch element supported between said members; means engageable with said clutch element and adapted to be rotated by said body member when said body member is rotated by the running-in string for selectively placing said clutch element in a position wherein said members are coupled to each other by said clutch element or in another position wherein said members are uncoupled from each other; and means engaging said members and constantly tending to shift said members longitudinally with respect to each other in one direction to maintain said clutch element in one of said positions; said members being shiftable longitudinally with respect to each other in the opposite direction to render said shifting means ineffective.

4. In a well tool adapted for operation in a well bore: a body member connectible to a running-in string for moving the tool within the well bore; a clutch housing member surrounding said body member; a clutch element supported between said members and adapted to be wedged between said members; means engageable with said clutch element and adapted to be rotated by said body member when said body member is rotated by the running-in string for selectively placing said clutch element in a position to be wedged between said members wherein said members are coupled to each other or in another position to be prevented from wedging between said members wherein said members are uncoupled from each other; and means engaging said members and constantly tending to shift said members longitudinally with respect to each other in one direction to maintain said clutch element wedged between said members; said members being shiftable longitudinally with respect to each other in the opposite direction to render said shifting means inefiective.

In a well tool adapted for operation in a well bore: a body member connectible to a running-in string for moving the tool within the well bore; a. clutch housing member surrounding said body member; a clutch element supported between said members; means engageable with said clutch element and adapted to be rotated by said body member when said body member is rotated by the runvning-in string for selectively placing said clutch element in a position wherein said members are coupled to each other by said clutch element or in another position wherein said members are. uncoupled from each other; a friction drag device connected to said housing member to resist movement of said housing member in the well bore;

' and means engaging said members and constantly tending to shift said members longitudinally with respect to each other in one direction to maintain said clutch element in one of said positions; said members being shiftable longitudinally with respect to each other in the opposite direction to render said shifting means ineffective.

6. In a well tool adapted for operation in a well bore: a body'member connectible to a running-in string for moving the tool within the well bore; a clutch housing member surrounding said body member; a clutch element supported between said members and adapted to be wedged between said members; means engageable with said clutch element and adapted to be rotated by said body member when said body member is rotated by the running-in string for selectively placing said clutch element in a position to be wedged between said members wherein said members are coupled to each other or in another position to be prevented from wedging between said members wherein said members are uncoupled from each other; a friction drag device connected to said housing member to resist its movement in the well bore; and means engaging said members and constantly tending to shift said members longitudinally with respect to each other in one direction to maintain said clutch element wedged between said members; said members being shiftable longitudinally with respect to each other in the opposite direction to render said shifting means ineffective.

7. In a well tool adapted for operation in a well bore: a body member connectible to a running-in string for moving the tool within the well bore; a clutch housing member surrounding said body member; an expansible and contractible clutch ring between said members; said clutch ring and one of said members having coengageable tapered surfaces for forcing said ring into clutching engagement with the other of said members upon longitudinal movement in one direction of said ring relative to said one member; means engageable with said ring and adapted to be rotated by said body member when said body member is rotated by the running-in string for selectively placing said ring in a position preventing such longitudinal movement of said ring or in another position to permit such longitudinal movement; and spring means engaging said members and constantly tending to shift said members longitudinally with respect to each other in one direction to maintain said ring clutched between said members; said members being shiftable longitudinally with respect to each other in the opposite direction to render said spring means ineffective.

8. In a well tool adapted for operation in a well bore: a body member connectible to a running-in string for moving the tool within the well bore; a clutch housing member surrounding said body member; an expansible and contractible clutch ring between said members; said clutch ring and one of said members having coengageable tapered surfaces for forcing said ring into clutching engagement with the other of said members upon longitudinal movement in one direction of said ring relative to said one member; means engageable with said ring and adapted to be rotated by said body member when said body member is rotated by the running-in string for selectively placing said ring in a position preventing such longitudinal movement of said ring or in another position to permit such longitudinal movement; a friction drag device connected to said housing member to resist movement of said housing member within the well bore; and spring means engaging said members and constantly tending to shift said members longitudinally with respect to each other in one direction to maintain said ring clutched between said members; said members being shiftable longitudinally with respect to each other in the opposite direction to render said spring means inefiective.

9. In a well tool adapted for operation in a well bore: a body member connectible to a running-in string for moving the tool within the well bore; a clutch housing member surrounding said body member; an expansible and contractible clutch ring between said members; said clutch ringand one of said members having coengageable tapered surfaces for forcing said ring into clutching engagement with the other of said members upon longitudinal movement in one direction of said ring relative to said one member; said ring having a transverse shoulder; a pin on said one member engageable with said shoulder to prevent such longitudinal movement of said ring, whereby said other member is movable longitudinally of said one member and ring in said one direction; and spring means constantly tending to shift said members longitudinally with respect to each other to maintain said ring clutched between said members.

10. In a well tool adapted for operation in a-well bore: a body member connectible to a running-in string for moving the tool within the well bore; a clutch housing member surrounding said body member; an expansible and contractible clutch ring between said members; said clutch ring and one of said members having coengageable tapered surfaces for forcing said ring into clutching engagement with the other of said members upon longitudinal movement in one direction of said ring relative to said one member; said ring having a transverse shoulder; a pin on said one member engageable with said shoulder to prevent such longitudinal movement of said ring, whereby said other member is movable longitudinally of said one member and ring in said one direction; a friction drag device connected to said housing member to resist movement of said housing member in the well bore; and spring means constantly tending to shift said members longitudinally with respect to each other to maintain said ring clutched between said members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,368,401 Baker Jan. 30, 1945 2,627,316 Baker Feb. 3, 1953 2,665,764 Baker Jan. 12, 1954 2,671,513 Clark Mar. 9, 1954 2,681,113 Baker et a1 June 15, 1954 

